Swimming Pools Spas

Swimming Pool

The costs of having a swimming pool vary greatly, depending on the kind of pump installed, level of use and regular upkeep. We will get to the pumps later, but for now think about how much time is spent using the pool. Some families predict five hours a day, seven days a week. Other families only use their pool on the weekends, but for 12 to 18 hours per day. Then there is the cost of filters, chemicals, weekly cleaning (if done professionally), as well as seasonal opening and closing procedures.

Most pool owners who are energy conscious opt for reducing costs the easiest way possible: running the pump less often or not at all…bad idea. The pump does use electricity, but to pump water through a filter to keep the water clean. If the pump is not used often or at all, then when it is finally turned on it will end up costing you a great deal more in chemicals, the filter will need to be clean two to three times as much, not to mention you will be unable to use the pool because of algae problems. The best bet is to have a good quality filter that will make your pump work more efficiently in less time. There are three main types of filters: sand, cartridge, and diatomaceous earth. All have their pros and cons, but overall the diatomaceous earth variety is the most efficient and has the finer filtering of all three filters. Units typically fit both small and slow pool pumps, allowing for greater flexibility. Also, there are some brands designed to encase the actual filter fibres in cartridges, adding a whole new level of convenience for the pool owner. (more…)